No Such Things
"There are no such things as "ghosts"; Danny remarked, with fingers crossed behind his back. "It's all Fairy Tales."
His little brother, Billy rolled his big brown eyes and wiped his nose with the sleeve of his pajamas, "You sure?"
"Yeah, if there were; I'd have seen one by now."
"Joey Hirsch says that there are such things as ghosts.
"Well, Joey Hirsch tells stories, pal; there isn't. Especially in your closet!" Danny repeated, walking over and opening the closet door, so, Billy could see. "See, nothing, no ghosts. Trust me, kid. Now, lie down and I'll tuck you in."
"When is Mommy coming home?"
"She won't get off work until you wake up tomorrow, now, lie down."
"But, I want her to read me a story."
"I'll read you one. Mom can't leave work.
"I don't like Mommy's new ship!"
"Shift, Billy; Mommy's new shift."
"When is she going to stay home again?"
"I don't know. When her new boss wants her to, I guess." "C'mon now, lie down." Danny drew back the covers on the bed so Billy could climb into it easily.
"Is she going to take me trick'in and treat'in tomorrow?"
"No, Billy, I am."
"Can we go to Mrs. Tomlinson's"? She makes pecan chocolate chip brownies."
"Yeah, sure. Now, lie down, close your eyes and go...to...sleep!"
Billy took a long look at the closet door behind his older brother and scrunched tightly down, beneath the covers.
Danny, tucked Billy in tight promising, "I'll leave the night light on for you, ok. Goodnight!"
"G'night Danny."
Mrs. O'Neal, had never before left her children at home alone. Two months ago she'd lost the boys father in a car accident. She had purchased a smaller house in the country, for her and the boys, but paying the bills required a third job. Danny had just turned fifteen and she felt he could handle things just fine. This was the first night that she hadn't been home from work by at least 8pm.
Danny went downstairs to the family room and grabbing the remote, switched on the TV. The slithering shadow of the original Dracula was hovering above a sleeping victim and he sat down to watch. He loved vintage horror movies; never seemed to get enough of them. Fifteen minutes later during a commercial Danny visited the kitchen for some soda and a ham and cheese sandwich.
Outside of the kitchen window, he could see the rain pounding down upon the garage roof. The door was still open. "Oh man!" he growled heading outside to close it. Danny, pulled down the garage door and returned to the kitchen to finish making his sandwich. He’d eaten half of it him before he returned to the TV and immersed himself in Van Helsing's ravings about the terrible "Count Dracul".
Upstairs Billy lay terrified listening for the sounds he'd heard twice before, coming From his closet. Sure, he thought, Danny had never seen a ghost, but, Joey said they did exist, and Joey never lied. Billy wasn't letting down his guard. He rolled over on his side, folded his legs as close as he could and lay staring at the closet. Shortly afterwards and despite his will to remain awake, he sank into a deep sleep.
As the old grandfather clock in the Foyer chimed 3am Danny was startled awake. He had no recollection of turning off the TV. He unfolded into a long stretch, stood and walked towards the stairs.
"I'd better check on Billy", he thought to himself, hearing a low whimper. "Aw man, I bet he's having another nightmare."
The air on the landing was still and silent and made him feel uneasy. From the hallway, he could see Billy's small form beneath the covers; "looks okay." He thought to himself and walked to his own room. Nearing the doorway, he thought he heard whispered voices.
"Aw man," he grumbled to himself, "I forgot to lock the back door!"
He turned and headed back downstairs; noticed that the whispers seemed to get louder; someone was speaking but, he could not understand what they were saying, it was such a low mumble. Cautiously, he peered into each of the lower rooms, but, saw nothing. The TV was off; so was the stereo. Still, he could hear the whispers. He peered out the front and back doors and saw no one on the street. Except for the rain pounding on the roof, all he heard were the voices. Someone else be must in the house! They could have entered while he was sleeping.
He walked back to the family room for the phone. Pressing
the programmed 911 button, he whispered to the operator that there were prowlers in the house. After taking his address, she informed him that she would dispatch an officer immediately. No sooner did he hang up the phone than the lights went out leaving him to grope in the dark for a candle and matches. Danny was scared.
Finding a candle and matches, lit it and quietly scanned the rooms once again. As he topped the stairs, he decided to check Billy. As silently as possible, he peered around the corner as he reached the landing. Billy was sitting, frozen, on the edge of the bed staring in the direction of his closet.
Nearing the doorway, Danny's chest tightened as goose bumps ran along his spine. The closet door was open and on the other side where Billy's clothes should have been, sat four men at a table! They were having an argument and as one stood up and drew a knife on another; Danny heard Billy's quivering voice, "See Danny, there are ghosts in my closet!
Both boys screamed as a shot split the silence of the house, then the closet went silent again; phantoms dissolved into nothingness, leaving the boys in shock.
Copyright, 2019, M.L. Kiser
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